Smyrna times., 1887-03-30
GAZING AT CORPSES.
A QUINTET OF LADIES IN A SAN
FRANCISCO MEDICAL COLLEGE.

FHHNSiOCO MEDlCAE COLLEGGs
Brave Schoolgirls in Search of ALatomi-
cal KnOwledge-Facing the Horrors Of
the Dissecting ROOm-In No Hurry to
Go Away.
The sad eyed janitor of the Cooper
Medical college was carefully picking a
handsome cadaver the other afternoon,
when his work was interrupted by the
appearance of four bright eyed rosy
checked damsels and a lady, who, though
slightly out of her teens, has lost none OF
the charms Of young wOmanhOod. As the
five approached, the janitOr threw a cloth
over the pickle vat and in some surprise
asked the young ladies what they wanted.
1--WE have come to see-we want to see,
yOu knOw-well, we have come to look at
the college, said the eldest of the four
girls, blushing frightfully and contem-
plating the cracks in the floor with great
earnestness. ''But, my dear young lady.
this is er-dead bodies, - said the -ianitOr,
very much embarrassed. The young ladies
looked at each other, and a painful silence
cnsued, until the first speaker produced
letter from leading physician and a
member OF the college faculty. ordering
the janitOr to show the girls around the
place. ''This settles it, said the janitor,
but he shook his head obviously, as with
slow, protesting steps and niggardliness
Of welcome, he introduced some show
specimens to their notice. ''They will be
bringing a kindergarten here next, to give
the infants object lessons in anatomy,''
grumbled the Articulation of skeletons, as
be carefully killed fly which was brOws-
ing on the Occipital bone of q late deced-
ent. But it is all right; if the faculty
gan stand it, can"
on KNOWLEDGE BENT.
The young ladies meanwhile made the
most Of their time and inspected carefully
the anatomical wonders which the physi-
can ordered laid open to them. Such an
unusual thing as the visit of four young
girls 20 such place naturally attracted
notice, and it was stated that the girls
were part of class in one of the public
schools and their chaperOne was their class
teacher. This was found to be correct.
and the teacher admitted that she had in
trOduced object lessons in anatomy as a
course for girls after school hours. One
of the studies laid down this year is fe-
male physiology, and during the course of !
one Of the teachers lectures she remarked !
that she had gazed upon the spinal col |
umn OF man once, and it was as large as !
her thumb, which she would not have |
credited without actual sight.
The girls were amazed and their curios-
fty was aroused If their teacher had |
viewed the remains of a corpse why should |
not they? was their modest Interrogation |
some OF them have an ambition to be-
come noted members of the medical fra
ternlty, and as the books had not arrived
from fhn p.ief and mot N oJ,o,,+ -,
that would give them authentic infOrma-
tiOn was in their possession thew held n
hasty consultation and decided to visit the
medical college. They asked the teacher
10 accompany them. She, anxious to as
sist them in their research for knowledge,
willingly gave her consent.
TOOK IT ALL IN.
The instructions to the janitor were
final, and told him what rooms to show
them through. They passed from one
room TO another, expressing their delight
hnu satisfaction as they beheld objects
winch We're Of uncommon interest. and
mysteries were raised. Il guess YOU will
not want to 20 in here, - said the ianitOr
as they came to the dissectinp room
Arc they cutting mp any One?" asked the
oldest girl mOdestly, while the teacher
Leld back, rePenting that she had left her
boarding house. The janitor informed
them that operations in that room were
suspended for the present, and the Young
iadies SAID t'ey would go in.
No, exclaimed the teacher with ami
nation, there might be subject in there
ID high state Of decomposition. But
-he girls thought that not to visit this de-
I'artment would spoil the feature of the
-rip, and they went in. On marble Slab
was q magnificent specimen of femininitv
and Just opposite was an Adonis iu the
sleep Of the blest, ready for the cruel cary
ng OF the dissecting knife. The sight
vas one that would cast terror into fbe
lcarts Of the superstitiOus if viewed ON q
lark nlsAt, but the young ladies' beheId
ne anatomical wonders with interested
hd marked cOnpOsure On these oh
ects their eyes became entrancad. and II
vas VITA some physical effort that their
eacher encouraged them to leave the dis
ectihg parlOr and 90 into another room 5
'here complete ASSORTMENT of medical ,
ilc-a-hrac could be seen in glass lars :
lnce visiting the museum of natural T
'ohders the young ladies' feel much en- /
o'ifased and have taken up the new study c
..ith. fresh energy.-James Harvie in a
'iOneer Press !